The Social Season from the Blue Book of Bklyn 1955






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           BLUE  BOOK  OF  BROOKLYN  1 9 5 5

                THE  SOCIAL  SEASON

      The gradual realization of the "powers that be" of Brooklyn's "upper
crust"--and it's been rather a slow one--of the advantages of holding the
most important events of the season here in the city of "churches and homes"
seems to have returned  with a sudden, inexplainable start. For two of the
most successful soirees in many a year were "reunion" events, "The Reunion
in Brooklyn Ball", and the wise decision of the Brooklyn Junior League to
hold its annual dance once again in Brooklyn. Both events were held at the
Heights Casino, and with most encouraging results.

      The trend of abandoning dull Brooklyn for the so-called allure of
Manhattan and such magic sounding places as The Waldorf Astoria, the Pierre,
the St. Regis Roof and the Plaza, which began in the 1920's because the
Pratt's of Clinton Avenue  and a few other well-placed families saw fit to
cross the Brooklyn Bridge to larger and more succint social fields has begun
to recede. Primarily, I believe, the social set of Brooklyn has finally
realized that you don't have to have a "Fifth or Park Avenue" address to
impress anyone....those who have made this transition have found out....and
bitterly so, that while they were "somebody's" in Brooklyn they wind up as
"nobody's" in Manhattan. If I may quote one of our most distinguished
leaders and one who has done a great deal in reversing this trend and
upholding the traditions of Brooklyn, who said at a recent cocktail party in
her Heights Home, "My dear, why Don't you come back to Brooklyn, you don't
mean a thing in Manhattan."

JUNIOR  LEAGUE   DANCE SUCCESSFUL
      The first major event of the season was the annual Winter Ball of the
Junior League of Brooklyn held at the Heights Casino on December 4th. The
dining room was open from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for those wishing a midnight
snack. Francis Walther and his orchestra played for dancing. Proceeds from
the ball went to the Community Welfare Fund.

      Mrs. Thomas K. Ware, chairman of the ball, wore a red and black
brocade full skirted evening gown. Other committee members were Mrs. Dudley
D. Campbell Jr., in a lavender tulle gown with a brocade portrait neckline
and matching stole; Mrs. Bridgford Hunt, in an iridescent pale green taffeta
gown with a band of mink trimming the strapless top; Mrs. John B. Madden, in
a gray silk organza gown with a matching stole; Mrs. Robert A. Mainzer, in
an orchid tulle frock with a bouffant skirt embroidered with pearls and
opalescent sequins; Mrs. John F. Thompson Jr., in a brown taffeta gown with
gold jeweled neckline and halter; Mrs. William Woodside Jr., in a tangerine
marquisette frock with a satin bodice, and Mrs. Richard Fiske Shaffer,
president, in a strapless black taffeta gown made with a ballerina skirt.

      Miss Deon J. Baker was the winner of a gift certificate and Mr. and
Mrs. Alexander A. McCurry Jr. won champagne.

DINNER  PARTIES  PRECEDE
      Dinner parties preceding the party were given by Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer,
Miss Phebe Kley, Mr. and Mrs. Edward V. Silver, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas K. Ware,
Mr. and Mrs. G. Fuhrman Nettles 3rd, Mr. and Mrs. Robert K. Plumb, Mr. and
Mrs. Eugene A. Garand, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Glennon Jr., the Misses Moira
and Patricia Tickle, and Mr. and Mrs. Darwin R. James Jr. and Miss Elaine
Marzullo.

SOUTH   NEIGHBORHOOD  NEIGHBORHOOD  BALL
      The Roof Garden of the Hotel St. George has been selected by the
members of the Junior Committee of the South Brooklyn Neighborhod Houses as
the setting for their seventh annual Spring ball. The event will be held on
Friday, May 7, and the proceeds will go to the Low Memorial for the
sustaining of an all-day nursery for children of working mothers,
recreational groups for children of all ages and recreational and
educational  groups for adults and parents.

      Mrs. Gordon E. Reynolds, who is chairman, will be assisted by Mrs.
Robert Hilton, co-chairman; Mrs. John Faison Jr., patrons; Mrs. Dorothy
Clark, invitations; Mrs. Jack S.R. Shad, decorations:  Mrs. Robert Eberle,
printing; Mrs. August Jandorek, books; Mrs. Alan Cruikshank, publicity; Miss
Barbara Hunt, tickets; Mrs. Carl H. Zinn Jr., reservations, and Mrs. Sidney
Kornfeld, dance journal.

BROOKLYN  HOME  FOR  CHILDREN  SUPPER  DANCE
      The annual holiday supper dance of the Junior Committee of the
Brooklyn Home for Children was held on Saturday, Dec. 18. This will be like
a coming home party for the younger set, for many will be arriving from
colleges. The dancing from 5 to 9 p.m. will be to the tunes of Francis
Walthers' Orchestra.
      Mrs. Hollis K. Thayer is president of the Brooklyn Home, which will
benefit by the proceeds of the dance.
      Miss Anne Giddings, was the Junior Committee chairman.

      The committee included Mrs. Donald Ross Jr., Mrs. Frank Sherer, Mrs.
Iago Galdston, Mrs. William T. Daily, Mrs. Eugene M. Patella, Mrs. Alfred G.
Middlebrook, Mrs. E. King Morgan, Mrs. Silas Giddings, Mrs. Royal S. Smith,
Mrs. Fred G. Burgoyne, Mrs. Edgar A. Palmieri, Mrs. John Messineo, Mrs.
Travis H. Whitney, Mrs. Hollis K. Thayer, Mrs. Edward M. Fuller, Mrs.
Frederic Keck, Mrs. Fosdick Zabriskie, Mrs. Walter Mosbacker, Mrs. Donald E.
Swift, Mrs. Peter V.D. Voorhees, Mrs. Arthur MacGregor, Mrs. Orrin G. Judd
and Mrs. Albert C. Magee.

INTER-SCHOOL  DANCE
      The second annual inter-school dance, the April Ball, given for the
benefit of Willoughby House Settlement was held at the Hotel Bossert on
March 26, 1954. Lester Lanin and his orchestra played for dancing.

      Miss Doris Whitney was chairman of the dance and was assisted by the
following interschool committee:

ADELPHI  ACADEMY
Marcia Cohn
Nina Di Giovanna
Rita Scardapane
Jene Steinberg
Judy Turino

BERKELEY  INSTITUTE
Jane Chapman
Ruth Cresswell
Carol McConnell
Paige Temple
Mary Watson
Patricia Zeitz

BROOKLYN  FRIENDS  SCHOOL
Anne Adler
Frances Goodman
Judy Leopold
Sally Szold
Jane Tupper
Grace vonAu

PACKER  COLLEGIATE  INSTITUTE
Nancy Clapp
Anne Giddings
Stephanie Magee
Lee Mosbacher
Karen Ross
Phyllis Strassberg
Lura Swift
Gail Zabriskie

      Thomas Schoenemann was chairman of the floor committee, assisted by
George Marsh co-chairman. Other members included:

William Bolean
Alfred Buck
Thomas Castallane
James Coan
James Conlan
Timothy Day
Charles Dunlop
Timothy Dyk
Robert Everson
James Fawcett
Robert Feldman
Stephen Friedman
Edward Fuller
Walter Glaesel
Stanard Hall
Anthony Hayes
Charles Hamm
Frank Hamm
Orrin Judd, Jr.
Robert Loughlin
William Madden
David Magee
Robert Martin
Donald Marzullo
Charles Monestere
Steven Munzer
John Opladen
Harry Petchesky
Frederick E. Rieger, Jr.
Thomas Rieger
Joseph Scardapane
Robert Scharges
Dunham Sherer
Robert Schoenemann
Julian Schtierman
William Shapiro
Peter Stone
Bradley Thayer
Richard Wahler
Charles Warren, Jr.
Harold Washburn
Robert Winslow

COLONY  HOUSE  DINNER  DANCE
      The annual benefit dinner dance of Colony House was held in the
Crystal Ballroom of the Park Lane Hotel, Saturday evening, January 23rd.
Mrs. Gordon L. Edwards was chairman of the benefit and Mrs. Ainsworth L.
Smith, co-chairman.  Mrs. Alfred H. Everson was chairman of the patroness
committee. Numerous cocktail parties preceded the affair.

EMERALD  BALL  AT  WALDORF
      Another outstanding event of the Winter social season was the one
hundred and fourteenth annual Emerald Ball held in the Grand Ballroom of the
Waldorf Astoria on February 26th. Proceeds for the event go to the
orphanages and other child caring institutions under the auspices of the
R.C. Diocese of Brooklyn. Howard A. Seitz, president of the Emerald
Association, and Mrs. Seitz entertained in their box during the ball and at
a large breakfast party following the event.

This completes the total transcribing of The Social Season, as listed in the
1955 Blue Book of Brooklyn.

Transcribed by Miriam Medina
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